Big Island police destroyed a total of 8,092 marijuana plants ranging in height from seedlings to 12 feet during a five-day eradication effort that ended Saturday (July 19, 2003).

No arrests were made in the eradication effort, which concentrated on the districts of Hamakua, Puna, North Hilo and South Hilo.

During the eradication effort, police executed a search warrant on a residence in Mountain View, Puna, and seized 1,103 additional marijuana plants ranging in height from seedlings to six feet. No arrest was made as a result of the search warrant, and the investigation is still pending.

Personnel from the Honolulu and Maui Police Departments, the Hawaii National Guard and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration joined Big Island police officers during the operation.